Francis s



F. S. FRASE. Apparatus for Testing Oil by Electricity,

llNrrn FRANCIS S. PEASE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR TESTING OIL BY ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,187, dated April 6,1880.

Application filed October 14, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANoIs S. PEAsE, of Buffalo, in the county of Erieand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Testing Oil by Electricity, of which the following is aspeciflcation.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing oil by means ofelectricity; and it consists in a pedestal or heating-chamber supportinga water-bath, an oil-cup supported within said water-bath, an adjustablebridge of non-conducting material adapted to rest across the top oftheoil-cup, and carrying one or more poles or plates, which are connectedattheir upper ends, by means of suitable wires, to anelectricity-generator.

To the upper part of the oil-cup is secured an overow-pipe, which iseither of ordinary construction or trapped to prevent the passagetherethrough of hydrocarbon vapor, and is surrounded at its upperportion by a casing to protect it from direct heat from the waterbath.

In the accompanying` drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of theapparatus when connected to an induction-coil, the bridge carrying twopoles for the production of a single spark. Fig. 2 represents the bridgewith three poles, and having brakes to regulate emission and division ofsparks. Fig. 3 represents the bridge in elevated position to permit theremoval of the oil-cup. Fig. 4. represents a portion of the bridgecarrying two poles, one being placed in contact with the oil, with itspoint projecting upward toward the downwardly-projecting point of theother pole, for the purposegof producing a perpendicular spark.

A represents a hollow pedestal to receive an d support the oil-testingapparatus, hereinafter described. An opening is formed in one side ofthis pedestal, through which a lamp, D, may be introduced for thepurpose of heating the water in the water-bath.

B represents the water-bath, which its into an orice in the top of thepedestal A. O is the oil-cup, which lits into the water-bath, and issupported therein by an outwardly-daring rim, c, which rests on asimilar rim, el, eX- tending from the water-bath. b represents athermometer for testing the oil.

E is an overow-pipe connected with the oil-cup at the proper distancefrom the top edge. This pipe is about one-eighth of an inch in diameter,and any additional oil in the cup will run of through this pipe. andthereby keep a uniform height in the cup. The overflow-pipe E is eitherof ordinary construction or is bent to form a trap, and is fastened atthe required distancesay one-fourth of an inch-from the top edge of theoil cup. Around this pipe, at its upper end, is a casing, c, which isfastened to the oil-cup so as to leave an air-space of about a'quarterof an inch all around the upper end of the pipe, and projecting so as toclear the water-bath, the sides of which are cut to it this case. Theobject of this case or air-chamber around the overow-pipe is to protectthe pipe from direct heat from the water-bath.

The trap, being partly full of oil, will prevent the hydrocarbon vapor,which is heavier than the atmosphere, from passing off through the pipe.This pipe also allows for the expansion of the oil Linder heat, theeXtra amount passing off, thereby keeping a relative height in the cup.

Gis abridge, made of hard rubber or any suitable non-conductingmaterial, arranged with a hinge or slide, so that it can be turnedperpendicularly and horizontally back and forth out of the way, as inFig. 3, when the oil-cup is to be removed. A On the bridge G are placedtwo or more metallic plates or poles, H H. The poles are sufficien tl yfar apart to allow a spark to pass from one to the other, their pointsextending down and near the surface of the oil or iiuid. To the top ofthese poles or plates are connected wires I I from the inductioncoil J,which is operated by a battery of any suitable construction. I prefer touse the bichromate battery, as I have found it to be very convenient, asthe zinc electrode may be readily removed when not in use.

L represents akey, to connect the circuit and send the spark through thetwo or more poles or plates H H over the oil.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent a bridge, on which are placed three poles, bywhich one, two, or three sparks can be sent over the surface of the oilat the same time.

P P P represent three brakes or switches,

by which,when left open, as shown, threesparks IOO are made at the threepoints O O at the same time. If the middle key or switch is closed,there will be a spark at each of the two outside pales. If the twooutside switches are closed and the middle one left open, one spark willbe given forth at the point of the central pole only.

A leg, T, on the end of the bridge, rests on the cup to support thebridge at one end and to steady and keep the points at a proper distancefrom the cup and oil. The bridge is supported at the other end by anupright, t, secured to the top of the water-bath, and the bridge G andleg T are capable of vertical adjustinent to or from the top of theoil-cup C by means of set-screws s.

The object of the iuductioircoil is to keep up asteady and uniform sparkorpower, which is given off at the points of ignition over the oil whenrequired. The power from the coil is regulated by an armature thereon.

Hydrocarbon vapor, being heavier than the atmosphere, rolls over thesurface of the oil and avoids Contact with anything like a metalindependent ot' the oil and not in moist contact with it.

In order to bring the vapor in contact with the electrical poles,(refined petroleum being a non-conductor,) one pole is placed in the oilor in contact with it, as shown in Fig. 4, with the point projectingjust above the surface, the end of the point being in the form of aIsmall cone, or it may be formed out of a simple wire. This brings thepole in moist contact with the oil and vapor. The other pole is arrangedon the bridge, so that its downwardly-projecting point shall projectdirectly over the upwardly-projecting point of the pole in contact withthe oil. By this arrangement of poles the spark is perpendicular to,instead of horizontal with, the surface of the oil, thereby producing afine and very close test, always alike for the same oil.

The operation is as follows: The water-bath B being filled with water tothe proper height, the cup C is placed therein and the bridge G isturned down horizontally over the cup. The oil or uid to be tested isthen poured into the cup C until it overiows through the overflow-pipeE, and thereby obtains a uniform height. The thermometer I) is hung inthe oil, and the lamp D is lighted and placed below the water-bath. Theelectrical bridge being placed in its position over the oil-bath, andthe connection of the poles being made with the induction-coil andbattery, the apparatus is ready to work.

When the thermometer indicates the proper point to test, the key L ispressed, which closes the circuit and sends the spark through the polesH H, directly over the oil. If there is sufficient vapor, it will hash.This can be repeated until the point of ignition is obtained,

the thermometer registering the same..

When the fluid is to be changed for another test, the bridge, with itspoles H, is removed or turned back, as in Fig. 3, which allows theoil-cup O to be removed and replaced at will.

The overow-pipe E will take off all the eX- pansion of the liquid andkeep it at the same height to the point of ignition, as beforementioned.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what l claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. One or more electrical poles, H, having switches P arranged on amovable and adjustable bridge, in combination with an oilbath of anoil-testing apparatus, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a vertically-adjustable and swinging bridge ofnon-conducting material, one or more electrical poles attached thereto,and an induction-coil and battery, for the purpose described.

3. The combination of an electrical pole placed in direct contact withthe oil, the point projecting above the oil-surface, and anelectrical-pole point arranged vertically above the pole, projectingfrom and in contact with the oil, for the purpose described.

4. The combination of au electrical pole plate placed in direct contactwith the oil7 and having a conical point arranged to project above thesurface of the oil, and an electrical -pole plate having adownWardly-projecting point arranged vertically above the conical point,for producing a perpendicular spark, substantially as described.

5. The combination of an oil cup or bath, having casing c secured at oneend thereof, and an overow-pipe embraced at its upper end by said casinge, as and for the purpose described.

6. A casing, e, secured at one end to the oilcup C, and projectingoutwardly therefrom to protect the upper end of the overflow-pipe fromheat, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with an oil-bath, of a trapped overtlo w-pipe,substantially as and for the purposes described.

p FRANCIS s. rEAsE.

Witnesses:

F. P. PEAsE, B. GoRcoRAN.

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